English football’s second-tier, the Championship, getting off to a blockbuster start with Wrexham taking on Southhampton and Tom Brady’s Birmingham City playing Ipswich. The Athletic’s Elias Burke joins World Sport’s Patrick Snell to recap all the action.

Wrexham

Wrexham began their campaign in England’s second-tier football league with a strong performance against Southampton, narrowly missing out after a late free-kick. This marks the club's first appearance at this level since the 1980s, and their recent progress has been closely watched due to their celebrity owners. The presence of high-profile figures such as Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, Snoop Dogg, and Tom Brady is increasing the league's exposure and attracting new fans, though not all traditional supporters are pleased with the Hollywood influence.

Tom Brady’s involvement with Birmingham City has been highlighted as particularly hands-on, with the former NFL star actively engaging with the club’s management and bringing his experience in elite sports performance. As these celebrity owners continue to invest in the league, the EFL Championship is seeing a rise in global attention and commercial opportunities, despite some concerns among purists about the changing nature of the competition.

Blockbuster opening weekend for England’s second-tier

For the athletic Elias Berg, thanks so much for joining us. That is great to have you on. What a finish at St. Mary's. What did you make of it all? Yeah, it was it was an insane game, I think. I think Wrexham started the game pretty much as well as they could have hoped to. Really kind of showed the way that they played in the last kind of few seasons. They were attacking, they were brave and they hit the crossbar shortly before scoring in the first half. It was, you know, they were all kind of steam ahead in the first half. And then obviously Southampton came back and showed that Premier League class right at the end with that Manning free kick, you know, 30 yards out. I don't think anybody expected them to do that. But I think that's what Wrexham are going to face now in the championship. It's that kind of step up in class that they'll see throughout the rest of the season, I'm sure. Yeah, it was a frenetic finish. And Wrexham, let's talk more about Wrexham because they've done so well in recent seasons. Keep climbing, keep on climbing. And there's so much, always so much attention on them due to their star power owners. What do you think, though, are realistic promotion aspirations for them this season? What are realistic expectations for Wrexham this season? It's a great question and not one I'm really sure anyone kind of knows the answer to. I think it's the first time they've been in the second tier since the 1980s. It's kind of completely uncharted territory for the club in the 21st century. They'll take loads of encouragement from today's performance. And, you know, there's a magic around Wrexham that I don't think any other team really kind of in the EFL in recent seasons has. It just feels like things kind of go their way. I know it obviously didn't happen today, but you feel like they have a chance. I think first of all, it's staying in the division. I think that has to be the priority for a club that's been away from the championship for so long. But then if they can kind of stabilize themselves and again, find that kind of identity that they found in the first half today against Southampton. I'm sure, you know, at the very least, it will make for great TV if they if they stay up and are competitive. But yeah, I think I'm quite optimistic about the way that they they're going about their things, particularly after today. Yeah. Snoop Dogg in the house as well. All this star power, some big name owners. How much gloss and attention is this all giving to the league? Do you feel it's going to be great for the league, right? Yeah, I think the EFL is in a bit of a tough situation. It has been for a little while. A lot of teams in the EFL aren't making money and they're heavily reliant on that Premier League win for. And if there are clubs like Swansea and the Snoop Dogg kind of involvement, and then Brady and Birmingham City, and of course, Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney with Wrexham, it can only serve to increase the stature of the championship, increase audience, hopefully then increase revenue, increase fandom as well. So I'm quite, you know, it's definitely not pleasing everybody. There's lots of lots of fans in the championship that aren't so kind of delighted about the fact that these kind of Hollywood stars are getting involved in the league. But it's definitely making for good TV and increasing the exposure of the league. That kind of really needs it. Yeah. Why would they be opposed to it? Like kind of like not for the purist kind of thing? I think that more than anything. Yeah. And also there's always that kind of little bit of tension when you see the likes of Tom Brady, who's obviously such a huge star in the States and in the NFL, coming into the, you know, English football and having an influence and impressing and, you know, doing great things that that some fans are kind of, I think more than anything, they kind of just want it to happen to them, really. And the fact that it hasn't, there's some kind of jealousy. Let's be honest. One more on Tom Brady. What kind of an impact do you feel he's made so far? Birmingham won all on Friday with Ipswich. Now, we know Brady knows more than a thing or two about winning Super Bowls. But what about football? What's his impact being on the club since becoming co-owner, do you feel? Yeah, it's really interesting. I visited their training ground last week and spoke to the manager and a few of their players and kind of got a sense of what Brady is about and, you know, his influence at the club. And it's definitely he's not just there for a payday. He's not just there to kind of find something to do in retirement. He's genuinely invested in the club's improvement and growth and really wants to kind of make the best of Birmingham City and kind of almost influence it into his kind of image, you know, all about the TB12 brand and the TB12 aura and what he's about as an athlete and a competitor. And I think he's really kind of dialed into that and kind of elevating Birmingham City in his image. He's got a really strong relationship with the manager, Chris Davies. They talk, they communicate on message and call all the time. And I think Davis and Brady see themselves as almost kind of kindred spirits. You know, Brady, obviously, 199th pick in the NFL draft. Who's overlooked? Chris Davis, a similar thing. He had to retire as a teenager due to an arthritic foot condition. So they've had to overcome their own kind of sporting personal obstacles to reach the level that they have. And, you know, they're achieving great things at the moment. Brady, obviously, is a player and a businessman post-retirement and Davis in his first head coaching job. So I think I think there's definitely something there. There's definitely a bond. And also he's helping to level the club up from a performance and nutrition perspective. He's bringing in those those those tricks, those skills that that saw him win a Super Bowl into his 40s. And yeah, it'll be interesting to see how it continues developing. Yeah, there was elite insights upon fine margins. Thank you so much. Wonderful insights. Thanks so much for your time this weekend. Great to have you on.

At least 200 protesters have been arrested at a rally showing solidarity for Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Parliament in London. Crowds are also demonstrating against a ban on the Palestine Action group, after it was designated as a terrorist organisation.

London

Middle East Conflict

London:  Hundreds arrested during Palestine action protest

After almost four decades of a bloody conflict that until recently had no end in sight, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a peace agreement in the presence of the US President Donald Trump. Notably absent in this historic moment is Russia, which no longer plays a central role in the South Caucasus.

Washington

Azerbaijan and Armenia sign historic agreement

Montana's governor said that the dayslong manhunt for the suspect in a bar shooting has ended. 45-year-old Michael Brown was taken into custody on Friday.

Anaconda

Montana bar shooting suspect captured after weeklong manhunt

President Trump announced Friday that he will hold a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska. The summit comes as Russia has been pushing to keep all the Ukrainian territory it gained from its invasion. Nancy Cordes and Margaret Brennan have the latest.

Ukraine Invasion

Trump, Putin to hold meeting in Alaska next week

The U.S. Department of Justice issued subpoenas in its investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James. CBS News' Jake Rosen reports.

New York

Trump's DOJ subpoenas New York AG Letitia James

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will meet in the coming days, the Kremlin said on Thursday (August 7), as the U.S. president seeks a breakthrough to end the Ukraine war after voicing mounting frustration with his Russian counterpart and threatening him with new sanctions.

Moscow

Kremlin says Trump, Putin to meet soon; Ukraine seeks role for Europe

U.S. President Donald Trump's rushed deadline for Russia to strike a ceasefire deal or face more sanctions has arrived without much movement from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump deadline for Russia to reach ceasefire arrives

Protesters in Israel are voicing their concerns about a plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet to take over Gaza City. CBS News' Debora Patta has more.

Jerusalem

Israel's security cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel intends to take full military control of Gaza and push a new offensive, despite mounting international criticism over the war’s human toll and growing hunger crisis.

Israel intends to take full control of Gaza, Netanyahu says

U.S. President Donald Trump said that there is a good chance he'll meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin soon over Russia's war with Ukraine.

Trump says 'good chance' he'll meet with Putin soon

U.S. President Donal Trump officially began levying higher import taxes on dozens of countries on Thursday (August 7), just as the economic fallout of his months-long tariff threats was beginning to create visible damage to the U.S. economy.

Global Tariffs

Higher U.S. tariffs officially take effect

The man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., earlier this year has been charged with federal hate crime charges. CBS News Justice reporter Jake Rosen has more.

Hate crime charges filed in killings of Israeli Embassy staffers

As Sean "Diddy" Combs awaits his sentencing, his lead attorney Marc Agnifilo says he has not talked to anyone at the White House about a possible pardon.

Sean "Diddy" Combs' attorney says he hasn't had talks about a pardon

Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, blamed Hamas when asked about starvation in Gaza, saying, "Hamas has not allowed the food to get to the people who are hungry." Huckabee also addressed questions over the controversial aid sites.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel faces questions over starvation in Gaza

On "T-Day," the US began enforcing Trump's new tariffs, raising average rates from 2% to 15% after a 90-day pause allowed some countries to negotiate reduced deals while others, like India and Brazil, faced hikes. These tariffs have generated over $150 billion in revenue by July, impacting various sectors and aiming to address trade imbalances.

U.S. begins collecting Trump's new global tariffs

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says he plans to call the leaders of China and India, to discuss a joint response to new US tariffs. The announcement came as Brazil and India were hit with 50 percent levies - the highest imposed by President Donald Trump.

State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil halts U.S. trade talks as Lula condemns new tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil in a move that sharply escalated tensions between the two nations after trade talks reached a deadlock.

Trump imposes extra 25% tariff on India over Russian oil imports

President Trump has been briefed about the shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia, the White House press secretary says. At least five soldiers were shot before a suspect was apprehended, officials say.

Fort Stewart

Five soldiers shot at Fort Stewart in Georgia; suspect apprehended

A Russian official said President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, had a "useful and constructive" conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.

Witkoff, Putin had 'useful and constructive conversation'

The U.S. aims to deploy nuclear power reactors on the Moon and Mars, targeting the first launch by decade’s end. A new NASA directive, revealed by Politico and AFP, calls for appointing a nuclear power czar to choose two commercial proposals within six months, aiming to outpace a Chinese-Russian collaboration.

NASA races to put nuclear reactors on Moon and Mars

Japan held a memorial service and ceremony for victims and the remaining survivors of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, marking its 80th anniversary and renewing pledges of working towards a world without nuclear weapons.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima marks 80th anniversary since U.S. atomic bombing

The U.S. is warning travelers as cases of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness, spreads in China. Health officials in China have ordered mass disinfection measures. The region near Hong Kong reported more than 7,000 cases in recent weeks.

Beijing

U.S. warns travelers as cases of chikungunya increase in China

Japan has commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing during World War II. Ceremonies at Peace Memorial Park honoured the victims of the 1945 nuclear attack by US forces.

Japan’s Hiroshima marks 80 years since U.S. atomic bombing

Multiple media outlets in Israel have reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants a complete military takeover of Gaza, while almost 600 former Israeli military and security officials are petitioning Washington to stop the fighting.

Breakdown